Harrow.



PATENTED OCT'. 8, 1907.

J. H. JOHNSGN.l

HARRO W.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED 'MAY 21, 1907.

3M/N Hw w uw m ATTORNEY.

VUNIIEI) n param? OFFICE; y

JOSEPH H. JOHNSON, OF NEAR ELMWOOD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF `ONE-HALF TOTHOMA `L. GALPIN, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS. i

HARRow.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1'90'7.

Application filed May 21,1907. Serial No. 374,865.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, .TosEPI-I II. JOHNSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of near Elmwood, in the county of Peoria andState of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Harrow, of which thefollowing is a specification. I

My invention has relation to toothed harrows, and particularly to thatclass'thereof in which a plurality of sections are employed, and whichsections are hinged or otherwise connected to, to be drawn by adraft-bar or bars to which the draft-animals are attached. v

In harrows of this character it has been the common practice to coupleeach pair of sections to a draft bar in one of two ways which I shallnow describe. In the event of two, three or four sections beingemployed, said sections were sometimes coupled to a single long bar towhich the draft animals were hitched, in which case the strain exertedby the doubletree-pin, (it being centrally longitudinally of said bar,)would often cause said bar to break at that point. With such draft-barin use, when it is necessary to pass vthrough a gate, (it beingunderstood that a gate is ordinarily sixteen and a harrow of foursections from twenty to twenty-four feet in length,) or to cross abridge, or even for local transportation over narrow roads or lanes, ithas been imperative'to remove a series of bolts and nuts, generallyeight of each, and to replace them when beginning work, thus entailing agreat loss of time and labor.

Another mode of attaching numerous-section harrows has been to coupleeach pair of sections toa short draft-bar, the ends of said bars beingbolted together, usually by straps above and below. These short barshave been connected by straps apertured for the reception of bolts forholding them in place; or in other words, they have beenconnected bystraps or links to each other and to a long draft bar to which thedoubletrees are secured. This, is an expensive construction andnecessitates a long hitch7 the draft animals being too far from theharrow to accomplish close work in turning at the ends of rows orbouts,.and neither of the -above described constructions permits offlexibility.

And while I am aware that flexible harrows are not new in the art, Ihave sought and purposed to produce a connection for ordinary harrows ofthe type hereinbefore referred to which will flex in any direction andto any ordinary degree; which will permit of a close hitch;

which will permit of turning within a short compass;-

whieh will permit of quick and ready detachment for passing throughgates, for crossing bridges and for local transportation; which is asquickly re-assembled; which is drawn from the side, thus obviatingcenter draft; which employs no long bar;' which-will be durablehandwhich is inexpensive of manufacture.

Mechanism embodying the structural features of my improvements is shownin the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure I is a plan, showing my improvements as embodied in afour-section harrow, partly broken away; Fig. 2 is a plan of theimprovements' alone, and Fig. 3, an elevation thereof.

In order that the invention may be better understood attention is calledto the numerals on the drawings, the same one referring to the same partin the different gures thereof. The numerals I indicate harrow sectionscomposed of transverse tooth-bars 2 and longitudinal frame-bars 3. AtFig. l I have shown a preferred construction, each of the two draft-bars4 having connected thereto 'two harrow sections, preferably by hooks 5fixed to or forming part of the bars 3, which hooks engage the eyes ofbolts 6 passed through apertures inthe draftbar 4 to which said sectionsare cou;-V

pled, and being fixed by nuts 7.

It will be understood that the construction of the sections, theirnumbers and their mode of connection to the draft bars is optional, andthat any ordinary ones, even old ones, may be readily attached to myimprovements, it being only necessary to provide the bars 4 withsuitable 4apertures for the reception of bolts or other connections tofit the connecting means of varying sections.

The draft-bars 4 are cut into suitable lengths and at theirproximal'ends are spaced an appropriate distance. Near their inner endsthey are apertured for a purpose presently related, and each hasfixedthereto by lagscrews 9, draft-rods I0 or other suitable connectionfor the doubletrees (not shown) to which the draft animals are hitched.Overlying their inner ends is a short connecting bar Il, apertured nearits extremities, also for a purpose shortly described. An endless loopor band I2, (preferably of metal,) of such dimensions that the ends of adraft-bar and the connecting bar `may move freely therein whenassembled, is passed over such ends and normally held in place by aneye-bolt 13 dropped through perforations therein and through thosebefore referred to in the draft and connecting bars.

In Fig. 2 I have by dot lines illustrated the ease with which the barsmay flex in the event of an obstacle being met with near the midlengthof the harrow. It will be evident that they may as freely flex in theopposite direction, or that either may be forward of the other. At Fig.3 I have shown by dot lines the right hand draftbar as having droppedinto a depression in the soil, the other one as passing over a highplace. Adaptability to freely ex in any and all of these ways is of vastimportance where rough, uneven or stony ground is being The draft-barsare short, and thedraft is proportioned or equalized, none being appliedat their centers or midlengths. It Will be evident that in turning atthe ends of roWs of bouts a great strain is exerted about the middle oithe draft, the inner harrow section acting as a fulcrurn or pivot aboutWhich the others are dragged and Which latter offer much resistance. ltis here, i. c., at the center, that most harrows are broken. In myconstruction an extremely short turn is permitted by the leXure of thethree bars in the loops, and there is little or no strain on theconnecting-bar.

On entering or leaving a iield, one bolt 13 is all that is required tobe Withdrawn to disconnect or unite the drait-bars, and being aneye-bolt or the like, it may be done in an instant and Without the useof tools. For local transportation both bolts are reinoved as lastdescribed, the 'connecting-bar slipped longitudinally of 'one of thedraft-bars, and both bolts employed to hold it in place and out ot' theWay, one oi said bolts being seated in the aperture at the end of thedraft-bar and one in an aperture l5 near the center of either bar 4.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:-

l. In harrows, spaced drnfibnrs by which the lnirrow sections are drawn,:L connecting,` har overlyingY said space and overlapping their proximalends, means adapted io slip over the overlappingends of the draft-harsand the connecting-bar, said means heingl oif such dimensions that theends of both the draft-hars und the eonneetinedmr are free to flex in:ill directions therein. and means tor pivotally connecting' all of saidelements.

2. In harrows, spaced draIt-lmrs by which ihe hnrrow sections are drawn,n. eonneetingdmr overlying;- said space. :ind overlapping their proximalends, loops adapted 1o slip over ille overlapping' ends of said hars,said loops t being of such dimensions that the ends ol` :lll oi' .saidhars are free to llex in :ill directions ihorein. :1nd means l'orpivotally connecting :ill of szid elements.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto sel in r this 15th day of May,1007.

hund

Witnesses Bnn'rim l\'rNz, H. M. Rrclmnns.

